Yardbarker: Justin Smithhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/players/justin_smith/3450
Recent articles about Justin Smithen-us49ers expect clarity from Justin Smith regarding retirementBy Jesse Reed
The San Francisco 49ers could certainly use defensive end and team leader Justin Smith during their 2015 campaign. The team is expected to finally discover if he intends to retire or not later this week, on Wednesday or Thursday.
#49ers GM Trent Baalke on Justin Smith: He will be in Wednesday/Thursday & we are going to talk. Hope to have a better answer at that stage.
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) May 12, 2015
Smith has been an anchor for San Francisco’s 3-4 defensive front since joining the team as an unrestricted free agent in 2008. He’s racked up 43.5 sacks since that time in what is essentially an interior defensive line spot, making him one of the league’s most dominant linemen in that regard. Equally effective in the run game, Smith’s presence on the line has been a driving force for one of the league’s best defenses, year in and year out.
There’s nobody in the front office, on the coaching staff or on the team’s roster that doesn’t want him to come back this year, especia12 May 2015 13:59:39 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/49ers_hoping_for_clarity_from_justin_smith_regarding_retirement_later_this_week/s1_12680_18783539
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/49ers_hoping_for_clarity_from_justin_smith_regarding_retirement_later_this_week/s1_12680_1878353949ers expect clarity from Justin Smith regarding retirementhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/49ers_hoping_for_clarity_from_justin_smith_regarding_retirement_later_this_week/s1_12680_18783539http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/e/7e0f9a3d3a350498aad60b43cce66a72fa1eeb93/top_story/smith.jpg49ers’ Justin Smith Will Decide “In About Three Weeks” Whether He’ll Play in 2014The San Francisco 49ers have been dedicated to giving defensive lineman Justin Smith all the time he needs to make a decision about whether he will return for an eighth, and likely final, season with the team. Now, Smith has said there is a timetable for his decision, telling Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee on Monday that “You’ll know in about three weeks or so,” whether he will play in 2015.
Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All Pro, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in Round 1 of the 2001 draft. He spent seven years in Cincinnati before joining the 49ers in 2008. He has chosen not to take part in the 49ers’ offseason workouts, though he is working out on his own and, according to Barrows, he “looks like he’s in excellent shape.” Barrows, however, cautions that this isn’t an indication that Smith will play for one more year, noting that Smith would “work out regularly for health reasons” regardless.
Barrows also notes that the Niners’ drafting of defensive tackle Arik Armstead in Round 1 wi04 May 2015 17:23:03 -0400http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/49ers_justin_smith_will_decide_in_about_three_weeks_whether_hell_play_in_2014/s1_12680_18740243
http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/49ers_justin_smith_will_decide_in_about_three_weeks_whether_hell_play_in_2014/s1_12680_1874024349ers’ Justin Smith Will Decide “In About Three Weeks” Whether He’ll Play in 2014http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/49ers_justin_smith_will_decide_in_about_three_weeks_whether_hell_play_in_2014/s1_12680_18740243http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/0/d0de4143c5dc99a57da65e01a61a5093c1c15269/top_story/7668168.jpg